Career Options for Chemists

Career options for Truman chemistry graduates encompass a diverse range of opportunities. A small listing is included below.

Graduate Schools/Professional Schools

Many Truman Chemistry graduates continue their studies at top graduate schools, or attend professional schools like medical school or law school.

Examples of graduate schools attended by recent Truman Grads include:

• University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign,
• UNC-Chapel Hill,
• Kansas State University....

Industry

With the chemistry background and research experience you receive, you could become a chemical engineer, occupational safety and health specialist, agricultural scientist, or a chemical technician. Manufacturing, sales, and wholesale trade representatives in chemical marketing also use chemistry knowledge in their work.

Other industrial positions which benefit from a chemistry major include: pharmacy, pharmacology, quality assurance, environmental protection, metallurgy, science editing, technical writing, and many, many more.

Recent Truman grads have been employed by such companies as:

• Monsanto,
• Sigma...

Academia

Truman Chemistry majors are well prepared to continue their studies to enter careers as secondary, or post-secondary educators. The M.A.E. in Chemical Education offered at Truman equips a graduate with the tools necessary for success as a teacher.

Government

Many employment opportunities also exist in the public sector. Federal laboratories, state crime labs, and other government agencies employ many chemists in a variety of positions, from technician to consultant.

Some useful links to sources of more information on chemistry careers:

• "Planning for Graduate Work in Chemistry", presented by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. (This document is available at the ACS website chemistry.org. Since the site changes frequently, it is best to use the "search" feature of the site to search for the title.)
• "Planning for a Career in Industry", presented by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. (This document is available at the ACS website chemistry.org. Since the site changes frequently, it is best to use the "search" feature of the site to search for the title.)
• Please let me know if you find other useful links out there.